Los Amigos set for glory

Niall Cronin
– 06 April 2015 03:00 AM

Los Amigos

AT 5pm today 30-runners will charge down to the first of 24 fences in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse with connections hoping to claim one of the most prestigious races in Irish racing but punters could be well advised to stick with a name that already features 14-times on the roll of honour.

The Dreaper family are steeped in the history of the Irish Grand National and with two runners in today's renewal, Jim Dreaper could bring his own personal tally up to five winners with Los Amigos who will add to the 10 his father Tom won at their famous Greenogue base.

Los Amigos was an late absentee from the race last year but has been primed for this year's renewal winning his only start since here back in January and although the trip is a question mark, like it is for so many of the field, he looks like an ideal candidate to get the gruelling 3m5f and go very close.

Colm Murphy's Empire Of Dirt is one of six horses in the field for owners Gigginstown House Stud but looks to have the best chance of the sextet after his Naas win and his pedigree suggest that the marathon distance shouldn't pose much of a problem, while backers of the well supported Vics Canvas will have been given a boost yesterday at Cork with the trainer Dermot McLoughlin and jockey Conor Maxwell teaming up with Westerners Son winning down there.

Willie Mullins will try and win the race for the first time with Perfect Gentleman and Dogora, while AP McCoy will try and win it for the last time on Cantlow for JP McManus and Paul Webber, a horse that will lift the roof off the grandstand should he win and give McCoy the fairytale send off.